As a crowd of people lined the sidewalk outside Regina’s first “purpose-built mosque” on an unseasonably warm Friday afternoon, one young child excitedly asked her mother: “When is he coming out?”

The “he” to which the little girl was referring was the Caliph, His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad — the spiritual world leader for Ahmadiyya Muslims. In a Canadian tour that has included meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the Caliph visited Regina to officially inaugurate the city’s Mahmood Mosque, meaning House of the Most Praised.

“People can finally see the manifestation of the real little mosque on the prairie, which is not little at all,” said national spokesperson Safwan Choudhry, referencing the popular CBC television show that was produced in this province. “Rather, it’s an opportunity … for all of Saskatchewan, not just Regina.”

“This is actually Saskatchewan’s first purpose-built mosque,” Choudhry added. Other mosques have been in pre-existing buildings that were re-purposed.

Speaking to reporters, the Caliph said the new mosque allows followers to continue with their message of peace, love and harmony.

One of the messages he delivered Friday was that “our tomorrow be better than today.”

“We are a progressive community, and we have to spread the message of Islam, the true message of Islam, all across the world,” he said. “Every day should be a new step forwards.”

Like royalty or a rock star, the Caliph arrived at the mosque on Eastgate Drive in a motorcade of limousines and Regina police vehicles with flashing lights.

Walking up a red carpet with an entourage, the Caliph arrived in the mosque’s front entrance to unveil a commemorative plaque and offered a prayer before moving inside to deliver a special Friday sermon. It was heard not only by those gathered inside, but by followers around the globe. His Friday sermons — the holiest day of the week for Muslims — are broadcast to 206 countries weekly through the satellite service Muslim Television Ahmadiyya International, which brought its crew to the city.

The Caliph normally does his sermons from London, England, where he resides. “Today they will see him from our town Regina in a place in Canada that many people around the world have never heard of,” Choudhry said, adding the sermon was broadcast live.

The Caliph, who has addressed crowds on Parliament Hill in the U.K. and Capitol Hill in the U.S., also visited Saskatoon earlier this week, and planned on heading next to Lloydminister. “It’s important for him to meet with people of the local community,” said Choudhry.

“It is the only mosque in North America that has been built solely by volunteers,” said Zeeshan Ahmed, the imam at the new mosque. “They’ve taken two long years off from their professions, away from their families and from their jobs to come here and solely build this mosque.”

He explained that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama`at community, celebrating 50 years of establishment in Canada in 2016, is the fastest-growing sect in Islam. Members in Saskatchewan number some 1,500 with a “few hundred” in Regina.

Founded in India in 1889, the community, which faces persecution in some more traditional Muslim countries, believes the messiah has already come, sent by God to reinstate morality, justice and peace. “Our motto is love for all, hatred for none,” said Ahmed.

“Our community believes that our mosques are open to anyone, regardless of their faith, sect, religion or ethnicity. This mosque is such an opportunity that we can build bridges … and ties of understanding,” he added. “A message to the people of Regina … you are always welcome here.”

The imam said it was thrilling, but also humbling to to have the world leader attend the commemoration.

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